State eases trucking restrictions for freeze
Florida Agriculture Commissioner Charles H. Bronson today alerted agricultural producers and trucking industry officials that some highway restrictions are being eased to allow rapid harvesting and transport of crops jeopardized by freezing temperatures in Florida.
Bronson's industry-specific alerts follow the New Year's Eve declaration of a state of emergency by Gov. Charlie Crist. The governor's declaration will last for 14 days and includes instructions to the state's Department of Transportation to relax weight, height, length and width restrictions on commercial vehicles moving freeze-vulnerable crops to processing sites.
'Florida produces nearly all of the nation's domestically grown fruits and vegetables during the winter,' Bronson said. 'So it is especially critical that we do whatever we can to help prevent damage to this season's crop. It is important not only for our farmers, but for consumers across the United States who are depending on us for their produce.'
Many farmers are rushing to harvest crops to prevent losses as an unusually strong cold front is moving through the state. Temperatures dropped into the 20s Fahrenheit in much of the state Tuesday night. That is especially dangerous for Florida citrus producers, but could endanger vegetables and other crops, as well.
The freezing cold generally lasts for just a matter of hours before dawn and during the early morning. Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services officials said the crops are not damaged if the temperatures stay at freezing levels for a few hours, but if the freeze lasts for more than six hours, many crops will be damaged. If oranges freeze in the field, the fruit is no longer good for sale.
By lifting trucking restrictions allows more crops to be harvested and moved before the cold destroys the crops.
State eases trucking restrictions for freeze
